Traveling signboard



June 17, 1930. s. HOETGER 1,764,533

I TRAVELING SIGNBOARD Filed March 15, 1929 //v YEA/TOE B '2 NHA 20 15 05 TGEQ d/wa fr-azaleas Patented June 17, 1930 V UNITED STATES I BERNEARD non rcrnn, or woarswnnn, NEAR'BREM N, GERMANY 'rnnvnnrne sIenBoAnD Application filed March 15, 1929, Serial No. 847,249, and in Germany March 30, 1928. V

vide d. The said rollersc and, therewiththe In the'devices which are used to produce constantly or intermittently traveling or changing signs the disadvantage prevails, that the moving sign bands or aprons to which the sign bands or announcements are applied are subjected to excessive strains and, consequently, premature wear. This is especially the case when plastic signs or representations are used, and it is the main object ofthe invention, to remove these drawbacks by largely reducing the friction between the aprons and'their guiding members. According to the invention the sliding friction which prevails in the hitherto known devices is transformed into rollingfriction by causing all the apron guiding rollers to-move with the aprons at the same,

or approximately the same speed. i

. In those cases in which the aprons are passed over stationary members, the advantages of reduced friction which are offered by the invention, may however, also be obtained by the employment of special guide or transport rollers in connection with such stationary members and over which the aprons are adapted to move.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings in which two embodiments of the to invention are illustrated by way of example. In these drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 11-11 and Fig. 3 is a section on Pine III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the invention in top plan. 1 Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation,

' partly broken away, of the form of the inv'ention shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 represents'a detail, showing part of the driving means for the rollers. I

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan View on the line VIVI of'Fig. 5. I I The aprons b which collectively represent the advertising or. other sign producing surface are adapted to move over the rollers 0, there being two'of such rollersprovided for each apron although, of course, any greater 5 number or other arrangement may be proous writings in case they aprons b, are driven by meanss of a belt or pinions 0 'meshingin succession one with the I I other. I

In the arrangementshown in Fig. 4 fiat present a broader advertising surface for each'of the aprons I). These boards or slats remain stationary whilethe aprons move over same, andaccording to the invention guide rollers are journaled at the ends of the said slats and may be driven'in a manner similar to the onejust described by a belt or chain from a driving gear such as f in Fig. 1, and over which the aprons b are guided. instead of driving the rollers 7c and leading, the aprons'there0ver,.the said aprons may be driven in any other suitable manner and the rollers is simply used as idlers to reduce friction. Apart from the purpose of advertising, the arrangement of moving sign bands or aprons, according to the invention, may be used as a blackboard withchanging writing surface, such as maybe employed for school or demonstration purposes. In thiscase the aprons b are simply made black in color, and it will be evident that owing to the very large total writing surface it is possible to write or draw a large number of different texts or; representations upon the surface, without being obliged to wipe. out the previshould be desired to be shown again.

What I claim iszboards or slats z' are shown to be used, which 'A sign board-comprising a plurality of traveling aprons, apair'of front rollers for co-planar relation whereby a composite diseach. apron, said rollers being arranged in play surface is presented by said aprons, similarly arranged pairs of rear rollers for said aprons whereby a rear display surface is presented, a flexible driving element for r0- tating said rollers, and a stationary plate connecting the rollers of each pair and forming a backing for the visible portions of the aprons. I 1

In testimony whereof I allii: iny signature.

BERNHARD HOETG'ER. 

